A crossmatch is performed to establish compatibility between a unit of donor blood and the intended patient's blood. The following blood components need to be crossmatched prior to transfusion:
- Whole blood
- Packed red blood cells
- Leukocyte poor packed red blood cells
- Washed packed red blood cells
- Granulocytes
The following information must be included with a crossmatch request:
- Component desired
- Number of units needed
- Transfusion priority: Hold, Give, Surgery
- Date of transfusion or surgery
If no clinically significant antibodies were detected in the antibody screen (see Antibody Screen), only serologic testing to detect ABO incompatibility is required. This is accomplished using an immediate spin crossmatch that be completed in about five minutes if units of the appropriate blood type are available. If the antibody screen is positive, the antibody must be identified and units lacking the appropriate antigen must be founded (see Antibody Detection). These units must be crossmatched with the patient's plasma using the antiglobulin technique.
Blood that has been crossmatched to give or hold and has not been transfused is released at 07:00 the second day after it was crossmatched. Blood crossmatched for surgery and not transfused will be released at 07:00 the morning after surgery.
In an emergency, the patient's physician must weigh the risk of transfusing uncrossmatched blood against the hazard of waiting for a completed crossmatch. If he/she believes the urgency of the situation warrants the use of uncrossmatched blood, they must sign an emergency blood release form. In this situation, ABO and Rh specific blood should be given if time permits (less than five minutes is required for ABO and Rh typing). "Blood type" cards from other facilities, dog tags, etc. are not acceptable evidence of blood type.
Specimen requirement is 2 plain red-top tubes of blood (15 mL minimum). The specimen must be labeled with patient's full name, birth date, date of collection, and phlebotomist's initials.
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